Parish Nursing - Health & Hope Ministry

"My dear friend, I pray that everything may go well with you and that you may be in good health–as I know you are well in spirit." 3 John 1:2

"Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of Mine, you did it for Me." Matthew 25:40

Parish Nursing is currently supporting the following activities to promote wellness of body, mind and spirit within our church and our community, to Christ's glory! If you would like to join our group to promote health and hope, we welcome you!

Contacts:

Linda Merkle, RN, Parish Nurse, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.Marie Pfancuff, BSN, RN, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Ministry Activities

Community Outreach

Backpack Buddies

Mobile Hope of Loudoun

Our Savior's Way is providing food for 95 weekend meals for students at Tolbert Elementary and Harper Park Middle School. These meals go home in the backpacks of children identified by school counselors as being at risk for hunger over the weekend due either to lack of funds, or parents working and unavailable. The food provided, such as mac and cheese cups, can be easily prepared. Milk, breakfast foods and healthy snacks are included for two days. More than 12,000 students in Loudoun County are considered "food insecure."

To make a financial donation to support this ministry: Make checks payable to OSWLC and write "Backpack Buddies" on the memo line. Fooddonations may be placed in the narthex closet. We are always in need of individual mac & cheese cups, Chef Boyardee cans and shelf milk.

If your family/student would like to help pack bags in your home for service hours, we are happy to deliver the food to you and pick it up when your project is completed!

Contact: Linda, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Mobile Hope of Loudoun is an organization that improves the lives of young people 24 years of age or younger, who are precariously housed or homeless in Loudoun County. They create pathways for this fragile, overlooked, and often unacknowledged population to have access to housing solutions, daily essentials, and life-changing support. There are may ways to engage and show our Christian love in support of this agency:

Civitan Events

Caring for Adults with Developmental and Intellectual Disabilities

*The next Bingo Party is Saturday, March 2, 2019

*The next Karaoke Party is Saturday, March 30, 2019

Quarterly, Our Savior's Way, in partnership with the Greater Loudoun Civitan Club, sponsors karaoke and bingo parties to provide a fun day out for adults with special needs who live in group homes in the greater Washington D.C area. Help is needed with set up, during the party, and clean up.

Contact: Elaine Senft, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Caregiver Support

If you are a caregiver, you are special, you are chosen by God, and you are loved!

Caregiving can be stressful and isolating; we hope these resources (in addition to the websites listed below) will help you find support and lift you up spiritually.

Caregiver burnout is a very real thing! Our prayer is that you can find ways to fill your own cup daily and keep a sense of humor. May God wrap His loving arms around you and give you peace.

Mary Miller, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.Roxie Sullivan, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.Linda Merkle, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

"Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up." Galatians 6:9

Resources & Events

Check out the Parish Nurse bulletin board by the kitchen for current health information. February is Heart Health Month!

Lyme Disease is epidemic in the Mid-Atlantic region. Information on prevention and treatment of this very serious disease is available year round. Need more information? Contact Marie Pfancuff at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Life With Cancer information is available with workshop, meeting, and support group dates.

FAQ about Parish Nursing

What is a parish nurse?

A parish nurse is a registered nurse who has completed a Basic Preparation Course inFaith Community Nursing developed through the International Parish Nurse Resource Center in consultation with the Health Ministries Association and the American Nurses Credentialing Center. A parish nurse may also be called a Faith Community Nurse. Parish Nurses are volunteers or may be paid by their church.

What does a parish nurse do?

The parish nurse functions as a health educator and patient advocate, giving referrals for community services and also for prayer and presence in times of illness and loss.

Parish nurses link health care and spiritual care in today's high tech world, bringing back what has been done by the church for over 2000 years.

How does Parish Nursing work with the pastors?

Parish nurses work with the pastors and other church staff to determine needs of members.

Parish nursing is a ministry which may assist pastors in helping parishioners cope with the absence of health in the physical, spiritual or emotional areas of a person's life.

Do parish nurses work alone?

Parish nurses may train volunteers from medicine, pharmacy, social work, nutrition and psychology as well as other areas that assist health care. Parish nurses welcome others to serve as volunteers, visitors and leaders of programs.

When did Parish Nursing start?

Parish nursing was started in 1984 by Rev. Granger Westberg, a Lutheran pastor in the Chicago area. Most denominations now have parish nurses and many churches in Loudoun County have parish nurses.

What is Parish Health Ministry Team?

At Our Savior's Way Lutheran, the Parish Health Ministry Team will consist of members who are interested in congregational health ministry. This will include nurses and those from other disciplines within health care.

Is Parish Nursing a visiting nurse service?

No. Parish nursing is not a visiting nurse service, nor a substitute for home health care or regular medical care by your physician or nurse practitioner.

Parish nurses do not give direct hands-on care or perform invasive procedures. By the scope of the Nurse Practice Act, parish nurses do not do dressing changes, foot care, give injections, administer medications, etc. Referrals will be given to agencies that provide the care needed.

Can a parish nurse visit me?

A parish nurse may visit you at home or in the hospital. Please ask a pastor or call the church office. We are available for prayer support during illness, to help you understand the health care system and to encourage good communication with your physician and health care team.

Can I help?

Yes, volunteers are welcome to join us!

Sponsorship

Parish Nursing at Our Savior's Way Lutheran Church is sponsored in part by a grant from Wheat Ridge Ministries."Lutherans seeding new ministries of health and hope in the name of the healing Christ."

For more information on Wheat Ridge Ministries, please visit their website at www.wheatridge.org.